Steam or vapor heating system



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STEAM 0R VAPOR HEATING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 16, 1928 2 Sheets-Shet 2 A/e VENT WATEE5ML I CHA/ lase WA T563 1 W5 AT TOE/VEYS.

I OVEEfZOH/ Patented June 24, 193% were STEAM OR VAPOR HEATING SYSTEM Application filed February 16, 1928. Serial No. 254,732.

This invention relates to improvements in steam or vapor heating systems.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide in a low pressure steam or vapor heating system, a novel arrangement of ele ments for automatically regulating the heat generating plant.

More particularly, it is an object to provide a draft door regulator for the generating plant whichwill be directly subject to the water temperatures and which will provide an auxiliary chamber for the reception of water passed through the regulator by reason of the expansion of the water in the generating plant and from which chamber the stored water will be returned to the plant through the regulator upon contraction of the water in such plant, thus placing the regulator under the direct influence of temperatures interiorily and exteriorly of the generating plant.

Another object is to provide for a steam or vapor heating system comprising a plurality of steam or vapor circulating circuits, a novel pressure equalizing device for substantially balancing the pressures between the circuits and thereby promoting equal distribu tion of the steam or vapor in all of the circuits.

A further object is to provide a water seal having a vertical lift and disposed between the steam or vapor generating plant and the return line of the heating system, the seal being disposed above the normal water line of the generating plant thereby maintaining a pressure dilference between the generating plant and the return line.

Although the illustrations and description thereof disclose the invention as applied to a heating system, it will nevertheless be readily understood that such invention may be adapted for use in steam using systems'in which the condensate is returned to the steam generating plant.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates a heating system embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section of a device used in the system.

.16 to a steam circuit (not shown) similar to Figurefi illustrates a form of heating system embodying a modified regulator.

Figure 4: is a vertical sectional view of the modified regulator shown in Figure Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several VIEWS.

Figure 1 represents a steam or vapor heat-- ing system which includes a steam or vapor generating boilerl of the usual construction employed in such systems. Leading from the boiler is a riser pipe 2 for passing steam or vapor from the boiler to the distributing main 8 adapted to convey steam to a plurality of radiators such as illustrated at l and 5. It will be noted that the radiators illustrated are of different types. The radiator 4 is connected at its lower right hand end by a valve 6 to the main 3. The lower left hand end of the radiator is connected by the return pipe 7 to the water seal 8 which in turn is connected to the return line 9 leading to the boiler 1. The function of the water seal will be subsequently disclosed. The radiator 5 is connected at its upper left hand end through pipe 10 to the main 8 and at its lower right hand end through return pipe 11 to the trap 12 which is connected with the return pipe 7.

Connecting the end 13 or" main 3 with the equalizer 1 1 is a return pipe 15. The equalizer is connected with the return line 9 and may be of any suitable construction, the func tion of which will be more fully disclosed. This equalizer is connected by a return pipe the circuit above described and which in turn is connected with the main 3 by pipe 17 Connecting the main 8 and pipe 17 with the lower end of the boiler 1, is a return pipe 18.

The boiler is provided with a thermostatic control fitting or regulator 20 for regulating the draft door 21 through lever 22 and chain 23. The operation of the fitting 20 is dis closed in detail in my application Serial No. 189,836, filed May 9, 1927, and is not therefore discussed specifically in this application. However, in Figure 1, the fitting 20 is provided with an overflow pipe 24 which is connected with the return pipe 7 for discharge thereinto.

The trap 12, shown in detail in Figure 2 is provided with an inlet port 25 having a valve seat 26 and con'n'nunicating with the return pipe 11. It is also provided with an outlet port 27 communicating with return pipe 7 through the T-fittiug 28.

Controlling the inlet port 25 is a thermostatic valve wafer 29 adapted to seat upon the valve seat 26. This valve wafer is carried by a stem 30 threadably engaging the aperture 39 centrally disposed in the cap 31 of the trap. The stem 30 is provided with a duct 32 having a radial slot 32 for communicating with the interior of the trap. Threadably engaging the aperture 39 in cap 31 is a plug 33 having a duct 34 communicating with the duct 32. The stem 30 and plug 33 are in spaced relation to provide a chamber within which a check valve is positioned, said check valve comprising a rubber gasket 37 and brass cap 38 encircling the gasket. The gasket 37 and cap 38 are positioned on red adj accnt the shoulder 36. Rod 35 is loosely positioned in the ducts 32 and 34 and will therefore permit free movement of the valve to either the stem 32 or plug 33.

Protecting the plug 33 and the exposed end of rod 35 is a disk 40 removably positioned in the recess 41 in cap 31. This dish is provided with a plurality of apertures 42 about its periphery and is covered by a centrally apertured cover 43 secured to the outer periphery of cap 31 by set screws 44.

The system operates in the following manner: Steam or vapor generated in the boiler 1 will pass through the main 3 to the radia tors 4 and 5. Any condensate which may be precipitated in the main 3 will return to the boiler by way of pipe 15, equalizer 14 and pipe 9. Condensate which may he precipitated in the radiator 4 will flow through pipe 7 to the water seal 3 and thence through pipe 9 to the boiler when the water seal is tilled. Condensate precipitated in the radiator 5 will iiow into the pipe 11 and be collected therein when the valve wafer 29 of the trap closes the port 25 as previously noted.

When the thermostatic valve wafer 29 becomes su'tiiciently cool it will operate in the usual manner of thermostatic wafers and open the port 25 by withdrawing from the valve seat. Thus the condensate collected in pipe 11 will pass through the trap 12 and into the pipe 7. The condensate thus suddenly added to the condensate in the water seal 8, will cause a partial vacuum in the circuit including the radiator 5, and steam generated in the boiler will be drawn to the radiator 5. lVhen steam or hot condensate reaches the trap 12, the heat will cause the valve wafer 29 to expand and close the port 25, thus preventing further condensate from passing the trap until such time as the valve 29 again opens. V

The thermostatic valve wafer 29 may be adjusted to and from the valve seat 26 to suit the conditions under which it is desired to have the trap 12 operate. Such adjustment is accomplished by properly rotating the stem 30 of the valve wafer 29. The plug 33 is adjusted relative to the stem 30 my proper rotation thereof as will be obvious from an inspection of Figure 2.

The gasket 37 and brass cap 38 act as a self-closing check valve whenever there is any pressure thereon caused by water or steam in the trap. Under such pressure this check valve closes the port On the other hand, if there is a partial vacuum in the trap, the check valve will close the port 32 and exclude air. Normally the port 32, chamber 39, port 34, chamber 41, apertures 42 and hole 45 in cover 43 constitute a vent placing the interior of the trap 12 in communication with the exterior and normally permitting air in the system to pass therefrom.

The equalizer 14 comprises a loop including pipes 50, 51, 52 and 53, the latter of which is provided with an air vent 54. The pipe is connected with the pipe 15 below the pipe 53 and the pipe 52 is connected with the pipe 16 below the pipe 53. Thus the equalizer connects the pipes 15 and 16 indirectly. The purpose of the equalizer is to connect two circuits to a common return and to a common air vent to prevent one circuit from interfering with the circulation of the other circu t. In the system illustrated in Figure 1, it will be assumed that the circuit including the pipe 15 is shorter than the circuit including pipe 16. Under these circumstances the pipes 15 and 16 are correctly connected to the equalizer.

The water seal 8 must, for best results, be disposed above the water line of the boiler 1 preferably about six inches. When the water seal is filled, the condensate therein comprises opposed columns of water, so that, 112' pressure is exerted upon either column greater than. the pressure on the other'column, these pressures will in efl'ect be balanced in the boiler by the difierence resulting in the height of the columns of water. For example, if the boiler is giving off steam, a pressure will be exerted in the main 3, while a partial vacuum will be created in the return 7 by reason of the condensation therein. Pressure in the main will, of course, also be exerted upon the water in the boiler. Consequently, the natural result is that the water is forced hack into the returns 7, 9 and therefore causes a difference in the height of the water columns in the water seal, thus automatically balancing the pressures in the boiler and in the return 9.

Obviously, pressure in the main 3 will also cause the water in the boiler to rise in the pipe 60, since the regulator 20 which receives the water from pipe is connected by pipe 24 with the return 7 The pipe 60, regulator 20 and pipe 24 act as a bypass around the water seal and, consequently, the water will readily rise in the pipe and flow past the regulator which will be influenced by the temperature of the water to check the draft in the furnace. Conversely, if the Water in the pipe 24 returns to the boiler through the regulator, the latter will be influenced to open the draft in the furnace. Water will be caused to rise and fall in the pipe 60 by reason of expansion thereof as well as by reason of pressure thereon. Thus the regu later will govern the draft either in accordance with the expansion and contraction of the water or in accordance with the pressure on the water or both.

Figures 3 and i illustrate a slightly modified system which functions in substantially the same manner as that previously described, altnough it has been found in actual practice to function more efficiently than the former. Some of the parts such as the equaliZer 14 have been omitted from Figure 3 merely to simplify the interpretation of the modified arrangement.

The circulatory arrangement comprises a riser 2 leading from the boiler 1, a main 3, radiator 61, return pipe 7, water seal 8, and return 9. The elbow at 62 is provided with a vent pipe 63 which extends to a distance preferably five feet above the highest radiator in the system. This vent pipe takes the place of the vent in trap 12 and its height tends to prevent the escape of steam or vapor while permitting free passage of air. Before passing on in the description, it is to be noted that the elbow 62 or the horizontal portion of the return pipe 7 should preferably be disposed about one inch above the highest portion of the water seal 8. In Figure 1 the corresponding elbow to which the pipe 24 is attached is disposed so that the latter is about one inch above the water seal. T he water seal 8 operates in exactly the same manner in the system slown in Figure 3 as it does in the system shown in Figure 1 and will not, therefore, be again described.

In the modified form the regulator 20 is subject to water expansion or rise in the same manner as the regulator shown in Figure 1. However, in the modified system the regulator is provided with a horizontal water lift or reservoir 65 which takes the place of the pipe 24 in Figure 1. The reservoir or overflow chamber 65 shown is provided with a cylindrical portion 66 and upon each side thereof with a concavely conical portion 67 closing the ends of the cylindrical portion. The cylindrical portion 66 is provided upon diametrically opposite sides with threaded holes 68 and 69 which are axially offset relative to each other so that when the reservoir is disposed as shown, the hole 69 will be above the hole 68. The lower portion 67 of the reservoir is provided with a drain plug 70 and thenpper portion 67 is provided with a plug 71 having a small vent 7 2.

Connecting the reservoir with the regulator 20 is a pipe 73 which is disposed at one end adjacent the top of the space in theregulator and at the other end in the hole '58. This pipe is curved as shown thereby to position the chamber ofthe reservoir 65 so that it is substantially wholly below the position of the connection of the pipe 73 with the regulator. However, the top of the reser-.

voir chamber is preferably above the top of the regulator chamber. Positioned in the hole 69 is an overflow pipe 7 1 which extends above the reservoir. While I have illustrated the reservoir as disposed below the connection 75 with the regulator 20, it will be obvious that the hole 68 may, if desired, be axially aligned with the connection 75. However, the reservoir has been found to work more satisfactorily as it is illustrated.

The regulator and reservoir operate in the following manner: When water is caused to rise in pipe 60 and to pass into the regulator, an excess of water will flow through pipe 73 and into the reservoir 65. The vent 72 and pipe it allow air to pass freely out of or into the reservoir as water flows into or out of such reservoir. The water which rises in pipe 60, being hot water, will cause the regulator to close the draft door 21, while Water returning from the reservoir to the boiler, being cold water, will cause the regulator to open the draft door 21.

The structure illustrated in Figures 3 and 1 is preferred for regulating the rapidity with which steam or vapor is generated as it has been found in actual practice that a system embodying this invention distributes the steam or vapor substantially uniformly throughout the system and in accordance with the required heat distribution. Owing to the fact that the system illustrated distributes heat uniformly and according to actual heat requirements, it has also been found that the consumption of fuel is very much less than is possible in heating systems previously used.

I claim:

1. A trap comprising a casing having a pair of ports and a threaded opening axially of one of said ports, a thermostatic valve wafer controlling the last mentioned port, and a stem carrying said wafer and threadably engaging said opening, said stem having a vent hole.

2. A trap comprising a casing having a pair of ports and a threaded opening axially of one of said ports, a thermostatic valve wafer controlling the last mentioned port, a stem carrying said wafer and threadably engaging the outer end of said opening, a

plug threadably engaging the inner end of said opening, and a check valve between said stem and plug, said stem and plug being ported,

3. A trap comprising a casing having a pair of ports and a threaded opening axially of one of said ports, a thermostatic valve wafer controlling the last mentioned port, a stem carrying said Wafer and threadably engaging said opening, a plug threadably engaging the outer end of said opening, said stem and plug having substantially axially aligned vent holes, a rod loosely positioned in said holes, and a check valve carried by said rod and positioned between said stem and plug.

4. A trap comprising a vented casing having an inlet port and an outlet port, a thermostatic valve controlling said inlet port, and a check valve controlling said vent, whereby fluid may be impounded at said inlet port before entering said casing.

5. In a low pressure steam heating system including a steam generating boiler, a draft regulator having a water circulating pipe extending into said boiler and below the normal water line thereof, and a water receiving chamber connected with. said regulator to receive Water therefrom and to return water thereto when the flow in the regulator is reversed, whereby the regulator is subjected to water temperature in the boiler or the chamber alternatively.

GUSTAV SCHWARZ. 

